Virtual Summer School at Bristol: eligibility, deadline and what it gives you
The Virtual Summer School is a free three-day online programme run by the University of Bristol for Year 12 students at state schools, with a Medicine and Health Sciences stream. It runs over Zoom in late May from 10am to 5pm with academic talks, social sessions and application advice. Students who complete it are guaranteed an interview for Medicine or Dentistry at Bristol, with priority for places going to students from under-represented backgrounds.
- Closes
- Opens soon
- For
- Year 12 students, medicine and dentistry
- Where
- Anywhere in the UK
- Gives you
- Guaranteed interview, then ABB instead of AAA
What you get
Completing Virtual Summer School gives you a guaranteed interview and an offer of ABB instead of AAA for medicine and dentistry at Bristol.
- Guaranteed interview for Medicine or Dentistry
- After interview the offer may be made at the contextual level: ABB with an A in Chemistry
- Priority if oversubscribed goes to FSM, IMD quintile 1, care-experienced, estranged, first generation, carer and refugee students
- Applies to every Bristol course you apply for
To get it, you must
- Be predicted the contextual grades and meet the GCSE requirements
- Score above Bristol's UCAT threshold
Who can apply
You need to
- Attend a state school anywhere in the UK
- Be in Year 12 at a state school and under 18 during the summer school
- Meet Bristol's GCSE requirements for your stream and study the required A-levels
There are no contextual criteria: anyone who meets the requirements above can apply.
What it involves
- Attend all three days with your school's permission
Dates
- Applications open
- Early 2027, expression of interest open now
- Applications close
- Not published, last cycle 9 March 2026, 8am
- Programme runs
- Three days online in late May 2027, 10am to 5pm
- Apply to university
- UCAS deadline 15 October 2027 for 2028 entry
How to apply
Apply through the Virtual Summer School page. It is run by Bristol virtual outreach team. Questions go to virtual-outreach@bristol.ac.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Does Virtual Summer School guarantee an interview?
Yes, if you complete the programme and meet its academic conditions. Guaranteed interview for Medicine or Dentistry.
Who is eligible for Virtual Summer School?
Attend a state school anywhere in the UK. You need to be in Year 12 at a state school and under 18 during the summer school, meet Bristol's GCSE requirements for your stream and study the required A-levels.
When is the Virtual Summer School deadline?
This cycle's closing date has not been published. Not published, last cycle 9 March 2026, 8am. Applications early 2027, expression of interest open now.
What offer do Virtual Summer School students get?
Students who complete the programme are made an offer of ABB instead of AAA. After interview the offer may be made at the contextual level: ABB with an A in Chemistry
Not sure this one fits?
The widening participation explorer lists all 60 UK programmes and filters them by where you live, your year group and your background.
Open the explorer